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Piano chord

A♭sus2 Piano Chord

A♭sus2 is a suspended 2nd chord rooted on A♭. The third is replaced by the second, so the chord is neither major nor minor. Open and weightless.

The notes

3 notes. Every inversion below is these same notes in a different order.

A♭1
B♭2
E♭5

How to play it

Root position first, then each inversion. Numbers next to each note are right-hand fingers — 1 is the thumb. Tap a key to hear it, or play the whole chord.

Root position
A♭1B♭3E♭5

The root is on the bottom — planted and stable.

1st inversion
B♭1E♭2A♭5

2 in the bass — same chord, new posture.

2nd inversion
E♭1A♭3B♭5

5 in the bass — same chord, new posture.

Which inversion should you use?

Whichever one your hand is already near. Inversions exist so consecutive chords can share keys — instead of jumping the whole hand to a new root position, you move a finger or two and the chords melt into each other. That is most of what separates piano playing that sounds smooth from piano playing that sounds like a series of separate grabs.

Suspended 2nd chords in other keys

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